As well as adding flavor and depth to your cooking, many herbs and spices also have therapeutic properties that make them beneficial for both your health and your appearance.

In fact, many people reach for healing and rejuvenating herbs for skin issues such as wrinkles, redness, and breakouts. But herbs and spices are also an inexpensive and accessible way to bring out the best in your skin, encouraging a healthy, natural glow and a radiant, dewy complexion.

The power of herbal skin care lies in the high concentrations of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that these natural ingredients contain. But what are the best herbs for healthy skin? Keep reading to find out.

Saffron

Like these beauty supplements, saffron can help you achieve glowing, radiant skin while also helping to tackle a number of skin problems.

Thanks to the way saffron purifies your blood and moisturizes your skin, it works to rejuvenate dry skin and reduce the appearance of blemishes. This powerful spice is also high in antioxidants and can help limit the amount of photodamage from sun exposure.

What’s more, the potassium in saffron encourages cell formation and repair, making it ideal for minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. And, since saffron is also anti-inflammatory and antifungal, it’s a good treatment for acne and irritation.

To reap the full benefits of saffron, you should always use a high-quality product, which has a deep red hue and orange tips. For an instant herbal skin treatment, mix no more than one gram of saffron with a little water to form a paste. Apply the mixture to your face then wash off after 15 minutes to reveal healthy, glowing skin.

Turmeric

Herbal supplements for skin often contain turmeric, which has been used in a variety of ways throughout India for thousands of years.

In particular, many people use turmeric for its powerful anti-inflammatory benefits, provided by a high concentration of the antioxidant curcumin. As well as its potential to fight melanoma, turmeric’s skin benefits include improved skin tone, rejuvenation for dull skin, and added brightening.

But, rather than applying turmeric to your skin, you can reap its benefits by drinking it as a tea, or adding it to soups, stews, pasta, and rice.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is one powerful spice. Not only does it pack in more antioxidants than a cup of blueberries, but cinnamon could also hold the key to preventing Alzheimer’s thanks to the effect two compounds it contains have on damaging brain proteins.

To reap the benefits of cinnamon’s antioxidant levels, try adding a sprinkle of cinnamon to cereal and hot drinks, or use it in savory dishes like this Moroccan couscous recipe. This will help strengthen your skin barrier, improve skin tone, and minimize damage from free radicals.

Chamomile

Chamomile’s soothing properties make it one of the best herbs for healthy skin.

As a natural anti-inflammatory, chamomile is perfect for reducing the redness, irritation, and swelling caused by friction burns, dry skin, dermatitis, and eczema.

This herb also boasts plenty of antioxidant power, including potent flavonoids for the prevention of skin stress and inflammatory conditions. Chamomile is also able to reduce the appearance of scars and minimize fine lines and wrinkles.

While herbal supplements for skin often contain chamomile, you can reap its benefits by consuming plenty of chamomile tea.

Or, you can also use a cold tea bag as a topical skin solution for redness and irritation. To do so, steep a chamomile tea bag in boiling water for three minutes then leave it to go cold. Once it’s ready, apply the cold chamomile tea bag to your skin for instant relief.

Cayenne Pepper & Paprika

Paprika and cayenne pepper don’t just add a boost of flavor to your cooking; they also boost your skin’s defenses.

These spices contain capsaicin, which works to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. But don’t consider applying these spices to your skin to benefit from their regenerative powers. The capsaicin will burn your skin if you use it as part of a topical skin treatment.

Instead, use paprika to season potato wedges, add flavor to hummus, and bring a hint of smokey flavor to pasta dishes. Cayenne pepper packs more of a kick, so use it to spice up curries, chicken, and fish.

Thyme

Thyme is one of the best herbs for skin care if you’re prone to congestion, breakouts, and acne. In fact, studies show that thyme’s antibacterial properties are more effective at minimizing acne than Benzoyl peroxide, which is often the leading ingredient in acne treatments.

Testing involved using a tincture containing thyme and dabbing it on spots, with researchers left amazed by its fast-acting response at killing the bacteria responsible for blemishes. And, as an anti-inflammatory, thyme is also a lot gentler on the skin than Benzoyl peroxide, which often results in a burning sensation and skin irritation.

Lavender

Sweet-smelling lavender boasts a wealth of health-giving properties, making it one of the best herbs for skin care.

Thanks to its antimicrobial and antioxidant effects, lavender is great for reducing the appearance of scars and wrinkles. It also leaves your skin soft and glowing with youthful radiance.

To harness the power of lavender for your skin, look for cosmetic products containing lavender oil. Or, you could try adding lavender flowers to your bathtub to help rejuvenate your skin from head to toe.

The Best Herbs for Skin Health

As this selection of herbs and spices show, these natural ingredients really pack a punch when it comes to boosting your skin’s health.

And, while some of these herbs for skin work best when applied topically for an instant skin refresh, the high concentration of antioxidants in many of these herbs and spices means that simply consuming more of them is enough to help your skin glow from the inside out.

For more health and nutrition news, be sure to check out our other blog posts!